Raoul Nordling

Raoul Nordling (French: [ʁaul nɔʁdliŋ], Swedish: [ˈrɑ̌ːʊl ˈnûːɖlɪŋ]; 11 November 1882 – 1 October 1962) was a Swedish-French businessman and diplomat.

Born in Paris, Raoul studied at the Lycée Janson-de-Sailly, and then joined his father's company, eventually succeeding him at its helm.

He spoke French much more often than Swedish, having to virtually learn his national language when he went to Sweden as a young man to complete his military service.

He played an important role in ensuring Red Cross access to prisoners of war, and during the uprising of the French resistance in August 1944 he negotiated with the German commander General Dietrich von Choltitz, to try to limit the bloodshed and damage to the city.

Many accounts of these events attribute him a major role in doing so, and he was honoured by France after the Liberation with the highest available medal, the Croix de Guerre avec palme in 1949.